Backlog Delays Norstrom Ruling

Defenseman Mattias Norstrom will have to wait until this morning to find out from the NHL if he will be able to play tonight at San Jose. Because of a backlog of other issues, the league moved Norstrom’s hearing from Tuesday to today.

Norstrom was suspended indefinitely because of a hit against Edmonton’s Tony Hrkac on Saturday. Norstrom, who received a five-minute boarding penalty on the play, sat out Monday’s 3-2 victory over the Mighty Ducks.

“[The play] happens on Saturday and here it is Tuesday and we still haven’t received a decision,” Coach Larry Robinson said. “What makes it even sadder is that the guy he’s suspended for [Hrkac] is saying that Matty didn’t do anything. It’s just a comedy of errors. I’m totally disappointed because I don’t even think that it should have been a penalty, let alone a suspension.”

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Defenseman Jan Vopat, who played in his first game Monday after spending the first half of the season with Utah in the International Hockey League, said he was surprised to be recalled Sunday.

“I didn’t expect to called up at this time because I didn’t read or hear about any injuries with the team,” said Vopat, who played nearly 23 minutes against the Mighty Ducks. “I felt pretty nervous at first but I was OK after my first shift.”

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Assistant coach Don Edwards missed Monday’s game because he was scouting young goaltenders on the East Coast. Robinson said Edwards will return for tonight’s game but may do more scouting later in the season because of the Kings’ lack of depth at the position in the minor leagues.

TONIGHT at San Jose

* 7:30

* Channel 9

Site--San Jose Arena.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Kings 18-19-8, Sharks 16-23-5.

Record vs. Sharks--1-0.

Update--The Kings ended a three-game winless streak with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Mighty Ducks on Monday. This is the last game before the all-star break for both teams. King center Ray Ferraro doubled his goal output for the season with two against Anaheim, including the game-winner. Jozef Stumpel is 18th in the league in scoring with 42 points. After struggling through December, Yanic Perreault has two goals in his last three games. San Jose is 6-12-3 at home, including a 3-1 loss to Dallas on Monday.